, 1887-11-02

of your boat hove in sight, one of them
tarnal wild cats began to growl and
scratch close to my heels.
'She came right at me a-growlin' an
kickin' up the leaves with her feet, an
snappin' at me. Then 1 skunk away, an
caught n hold of this tree, an swung up
in its branches. The old critter was a
good climber too, an she was at my
heds the next moment. Then began
to set up a-yellin to attract your atten-
tion, an when We was right under me l
dropped. Thet's the story, strangers"
Our visitors account of his adventures
was so plausible that wo all felt satisfied,
and at once he became a free passenger.
While / returned to my wheel, and
started the tug under way again, one of
the deck hands took him below to give
him something to eat. The excite
ment of the little adyenturer soon
died out, n in half an noun 1 had
almost forgotten that we mad moro pas
sengers on board than our usual number.
l watched complacently the clouds drift
ing across the face of the moon, forming
fantastic pictures against the soft light
of the sky. The scene was in harmony
with my feelings, and had duty not dio-
tated differently I should have dropped
peacefully TO sleep.
But long service had made me sleepless
when the spokes of the wheel were in my
hand, and unconsciously l kept my
weather eye directed straight ahead when
the p~assageway became exceptionally mar
row.. AS we crossed one of the open
spaces in the river, and were approaching
the narrow part of the stream again, my
attention was attracted by the peculiar
actions of the tug. Her PROV seemed to
be gradually heading toward the right
bank, where a deNse growth of bushes
extended down to the waters edge. In
voluntarily l turned the wheel in the OPP
posite direction, and for u moment the
a seemed ~endeavoring to obey her rud-
der. She struggled up stream for a mo-
ment, then hesitated, and again headed
toward the shore. With a desperate jerk
l threw the rudder as far to the right as
it could go, determined to make the vessel
mind. But to my surprise, she merely
repeated her former actions, and APP
preached within 200 yards of the bank.
Feeling certain that something was
wrong, l struck the bell sharply for the
engineer to reverse the machinery. She
was checked at once, but not until her
prov stuck in the mud near the bank. 1
thought then l saw q human form emerge
from the bushes, but the sudden back
ward movement of the tug prevented me
from seeing clearly.
By this time | had become anxious lest
something was wrong aboard the boat,
and, calling one of the deck hands, l told
him to examine the river ahead of us as
we proceeded. Then, starting up stream
slowly again, l held the spokes firmly in
my hand, and waited for further devel-
opments. Once more the boat began to
act in the old peculiar manner, turn.
ing her prov gradually toward the
right bank, This was exasperating,
and the machinery was again stop
ped. Boat hooks were then busiiy
employed searching in the water for the
obstruction.
Lend us a hand here, " suddenly cried
one of the men with the hooks, as he
seemed to be Juggling away at something
in the water. The next ome he
pulled up to our view a heavy cable rope
that lay ~diagonally across the river. 1t
was stretched in such a manner that Q
boat coming up stream would not be
suddenly checked in its Roadway, but
would gradually swing its head around
until its prov ran straight into the right
bank.
TIL discovery confirmed my fears that
attempts were being made to capture the
boat, but before l could give orders to
cut the cable, a flash and a report from
the right bank informed us that our lives
were in danger. Reversing the engine,
we started the tug toward the left bank,
to get beyond the reach of bullets if pos
sible. Here I concluded to hold a con-
sultation with my men and prepare for
battle. In the shadow of the trees on
the left bank of the river we were in
such darkness that they could not do
much damage with their firearms, though
a stray bullet might pick one Of us off at
any moment.
There were three of us, all heavily
armed and desperate men, accustomed to
dodge bullets and return a shot for a
shot. The stranger would make the
fourth, but of his courage, however, we
were ignorant. He was still in the cabin
below, sleeping, as we supposed; but
hen we went to rouse him we found to
our chagrin that he had disappeared. 1
concluded that he was in league with
those on the opposite side of the river and
his strange appearance on the steamer
was merely a part of a deeply laid scheme.
Come men," 1 whispered. 1--WE must
reach that cable again and cut it, n then
steam up the river for all that we arc
worth. Do you understand"
They acknowledged their assent with a
bow and "Ay, ay, captain. we're with
you"
"But hist; what's that?"
A dark object was moving out of the
shadow of the trees and making its noise
less course across the river. 1t was the
head of a swimmer.
Zone moment" l cried.
The flash and report of my rifle were
followed by a piercing death cry, and
with a wild leap the object turned over
in the water and settled back in the
muddy stream. There was no need for
explanation; we all understood the mean
ing Of the affair.
Nov, down men, behind the cabin"
1 cried. The order was given none too
soon, for the next moment a number OF
bullets struck the side of the boat. We
remained quiet, determining to save our
powder and bullets until we could use
them effectively. I started toward the
nilpt hOt,ea an1 inctr,tctal tho .nr;naar 20